Army Celebrates 74th Armour Day

Army Statement: Armour Day is celebrated on May 1 every year to commemorate the commencement of mechanisation of the Indian avalry regiments. On this date in 1938, the Scinde Horse became the first regiment to shed their horses and to be equipped with tanks. The first such equipment comprised Vickers light tanks and Chevrolet armoured cars.

The Indian Armoured Corps was equipped with comparatively modern Sherman tanks (M4) of American origin in 1943. Regiments so equipped formed the spearhead of the 14th Army during its pursuit of the defeated Japanese in the liberation of Burma. Post-independence, Indian armour lost one third of its units and training establishments to Pakistan with the Indian share being only twelve regiments. It was these regiments which nurtured the Corps and helped expand to the force that it has evolved into today.

Expansion and modernisation of the Armoured Corps was initiated post independence with Centurions Mark VII and AMX-13 light tanks. Since then, the Armoured Corps has operated the indigenous Vijayanta tanks, the Russian T-54 and T-55, T-72 and T-90 tanks and indigenous MBT Arjun.

An ideal man-machine interface led to a sterling performance in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 when the sophisticated Pakistani Patton tanks were decimated by own Centurian tanks to form the famous ‘Patton Graveyard, near Khemkaran in Punjab. Lt Col AB Tarapore of ‘The Poona Horse’ was posthumously honoured with the Param Vir Chakra for his gallant action in the Shakargarh Bulge. The Corps proved its mettle yet again gloriously in the 1971 war with Pakistan wherein tanks were at the forefront of action in the plains sector on the Western and Eastern fronts. 2nd Lt Arun Khetrapal fought gallantly and made the supreme sacrifice in the Battle of Basantar River earning for his regiment ‘The Poona Horse’, yet another Param Vir Chakra. The core ethos of displaying exemplary courage in the face of fearful odds is amply demonstrated by the award of two Param Vir Chakras, 15 Maha Vir Chakras and 60 Vir Chakras amongst a large number of gallantry and distinguished service awards bestowed upon officers and men of the Armoured Corps.

The Corps contributes substantially to the counter insurgency operations at all times. This includes service with the Rashtriya Rifles, Assam Rifles and other PMF. The Corps is also making its contribution in its share for world peace by deploying a contingent to the UN peace keeping mission in Lebanon, apart from individual representations.

I think all the above said problems are due to lack of indegenisation of defence products. China has a full-fledged manufacturing industry.they employs cutting-edge manufacturing technologies. In India our problem is not of product designing as we have highly qualified designers in DPSUs, but when it comes to manufacturing we still use WW2 machines thus reducing productivity and complexity of manufactured products.We have to invest a lot of money and manpower in the specified area.

Anonymous

Arjun is an good tank but have a bad publicity. I have never heard of any china and pakistan product being criticize by their army politician media. Is they develop best in world.is their missile never get failed. NO but they people accept their indigenous product as their Army officer and politician is not getting millions of $$$$ in weapons deal.so please accept Arjun.swadeshi apnao desh bachao…

In any major war, the country with the faster prodction rates (not better quality weapons) wins the war. In WWII Russia had faster production rates while Germany had better quality. Also US had faster production rates of military equipments then Britian, France or Germay.

Today China has the fastest production rates in the world because of there indegenisation program and well developed manufacturing infrustructure. India neither has the quality nor fast production rates to counter China. Add to that we are heavily dependent on foreign supplies for ammunition and spares. This situation needs to change COMPLETELY if we want to counter China. Carrying out "excercises" with foreign equipment is not going to win us many wars.

Anonymous

Anonymous

I agree with Joy. China even with their 3-class reversed engineered weapons and equipment have their OWN production lines. Us (India), on the other hand only have assembly lines. Big difference. What will happen during a full fledged conventional war when our foreign suppliers will stop supplying us the parts to assemble our great planes and tanks? No indigenous production = sorrow defeat and later internal political struggle which will eventually lead India to split into many states. Why the F* our babus can't foresee this?